During the early stages of the displacement of Syrian refugees, it had not been anticipated that large numbers of Syrians would flee to Iraq. However, currently, 33,704 Syrian refugees have been registered or are awaiting registration as of 2 October 2012. This is six-times more than three months ago. In addition, more than 37,000 Iraqis have returned from Syria since June 2012. Most Syrians arrived with little cash, having had to deplete their resources while still in Syria. Syrians are scattered throughout northern Iraq with a concentration in the Kurdish Region. Particularly refugees residing in the Domiz camp have limited access to income generating opportunities. According to a recent Joint Rapid Needs Assessment by the Government, UN and NGOs, a large proportion of Syrian refugees are currently in need of food assistance.
October 2012